Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce admits he wanted to sign Crystal Palace striker Connor Wickham for West Ham.

Wickham, signed from Ipswich for £8m in 2011, managed only six goals last season as Sunderland just survived the drop again.

Allardyce said: "We didn't manage to get Connor at West Ham and he's moved on to Palace since under Alan Pardew.

"But his development hasn't been as quick as everyone expected. He's a handful when he plays but the disappointing thing is his goal ratio.

"Centre-forwards need to be trying to always get into double figures.''